Automated utility metering systems and methods

Abstract

Utility metering systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary utility metering system can comprise a middleware system and a plurality of firmware systems. Each firmware system can be installed at a utility meter. A firmware system can maintain data related to an associated customer's utility services account. The firmware system can perform real time calculations to update the customer's account and balance as needed and can make decisions related to the customer's account, such as connection and disconnection of services, which can be implemented in real time. The middleware system can enable customers to interact with their respective utility meters, so that modifications made by the customers to their accounts can be transmitted to the applicable utility meters in real time.

1 . A utility metering system comprising:
 a firmware system located proximate a customer premise of a customer and in communication with a utility meter, the firmware system being configured to maintain, proximate the customer premise, rate information and an account balance for a utility account of the customer, the firmware system comprising:
 a rules unit for applying a set of one or more rules associated with a utility account of the customer; and 
 a calculations unit configured to update the account balance stored proximate the customer premise in real time, based on usage of a utility service detected by the utility meter. 
   
     
     
         2 . The utility metering system of  claim 1 , further comprising a middleware system in remote communication with the firmware system, the middleware system configured to receive an account modification request and to communicate the account modification request to the firmware system proximate the customer premise. 
     
     
         3 . The utility metering system of  claim 2 , the middleware system and the firmware system being in communication over an automated metering infrastructure. 
     
     
         4 . The utility metering system of  claim 3 , the firmware system being installed on the utility meter by the automated metering system. 
     
     
         5 . The utility metering system of  claim 1 , the firmware system being configured to update the account balance at periodic intervals of approximately one minute or less. 
     
     
         6 . The utility metering system of  claim 1 , the firmware system being configured to automatically disconnect the utility service in response to the account balance being less than a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         7 . The utility metering system of  claim 1 , the firmware system being configured to automatically reconnect the utility service in response to the account balance being greater than a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         8 . The utility metering system of  claim 1 , the firmware system being configured to automatically and independently modify the utility service provided to the customer without external approval. 
     
     
         9 . The utility metering system of  claim 1 , the firmware system being configured to automatically notify a party of a status of the utility account, in response to a predetermined condition being met. 
     
     
         10 . The utility metering system of  claim 9 , the party notified being the customer. 
     
     
         11 . The utility metering system of  claim 1 , the set of one or more rules being customized for the customer. 
     
     
         12 . A utility metering system comprising:
 a plurality of firmware systems, each firmware system being located proximate a customer premise in communication with a corresponding utility meter, and being configured to store proximate the customer premise a plurality of rate information and a plurality of balance information related to a utility account of a customer associated with the corresponding utility meter;   a middleware system in remote communication with the plurality of firmware systems, the middleware system configured to receive an account modification request from a first customer associated with a first firmware system in communication with a corresponding first utility meter; and   the first firmware system being configured to update a first utility account of the first customer directly on the first firmware system, in response to the account modification request.   
     
     
         13 . The utility metering system of  claim 12 , the first firmware system being configured to calculate an updated account balance of the utility account, proximate the customer premise, in response to the account modification request. 
     
     
         14 . The utility metering system of  claim 12 , the first firmware system being configured to modify the rate information stored proximate the customer premise, in response to the account modification request. 
     
     
         15 . The utility metering system of  claim 14 , the first firmware system being configured to detect utility service usage and to calculate an account balance of the utility account in real time proximate the customer premise, based on the modified rate information. 
     
     
         16 . The utility metering system of  claim 12 , each of the plurality of firmware systems being configured to independently calculate account balances for their corresponding utility meters. 
     
     
         17 . A utility metering method comprising:
 receiving at a middleware system a modification request for a utility account, the utility account being associated with a utility meter;   transmitting the modification request to a firmware system located proximate a customer premise of a customer and in communication with the utility meter;   storing at the customer premise a plurality of account data describing the utility account; and   configuring a processing device at the utility meter to modify the plurality of account data at the customer premise and, without approval outside of the firmware system, to determine a response to the modification request.   
     
     
         18 . The utility metering method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 detecting an amount of utility service usage at the utility meter; and   applying a rate plan to calculate an updated account balance proximate the customer premise.   
     
     
         19 . The utility metering method of  claim 18 , further comprising automatically reconnecting the utility service in real time if the utility service is currently disconnected and the updated account balance exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         20 . The utility metering method of  claim 18 , further comprising updating the account balance in real time when the utility service usage is detected.